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ST MARTINS PEOPLE
SIMON BEDFORD
Arts all-rounder, producer and St Martins Transformer!
Originally from the UK, Simon has lived in Melbourne for nearly 10 years now and has worked in the arts for even longer. His experience spans marketing for theatre companies to producer and chief executive roles at small, independent theatre companies in the UK, to ticketing and systems at Melbourne International Film Festival and now URBNSURF!
In 2015, after relocating to Australia, Simon set up his own company, The Inhabitors, making interactive, immersive adventures for families.
We had a quick chat with Simon under Irene Mitchell’s peppercorn tree!
Complete the sentence. I am happiest when…
I am happiest when I am enjoying some peaceful time, listening to a podcast, reading a book, going to the cinema or having a quality evening with my husband, something along those lines.
Why are you interested in supporting young people’s voices?
I had the joy and privilege of experiencing the arts in various forms when I was growing up; I was in choirs and youth theatres and all of those things were immensely enjoyable and helped me grow and understand the world. I want to support other young people to experience that same joy, and fun, and laughter, and sadness and all of the emotions that you experience in participating in the arts. For me, it’s not just about wanting to support people who put on shows, but organisations like St Martins who are creating opportunities for young people to directly engage in the making of work, or creating work in the moment with artists. The chance to be deeply engaged in it. Not just going to see stuff but being an integral part of it. I love the way that you bring young people into the work and help them to do that.
St Martins is not only a place where people come to create and learn, but it is also a place where many friendships are formed. What do you value most in your friends?
An opportunity to share experiences, laugh and have fun and feel that sense of community together.
This year we are working on a new production called The Word, which will be presented at Abbotsford Convent in May. Do you have a word of the year?
Funnily enough I try to have a word every year but ironically this year I haven’t figured out what that word is yet! I think it will be something around learning, expanding my knowledge, growing.
What has been inspiring you recently?
A couple of years ago I committed to reading everything that was on that year’s Stella Prize Longlist, and it was such a great experience It gave me an appreciation for not just reading novels or nonfiction, but also short stories and poetry and graphic novels. So now I am being inspired by reading a fantastic mix of books including poetry, which is definitely not something Simon of a few years would have thought!
Thank you, Simon!
The Inhabitor’s latest adventure work ‘Squishy Taylor and the City-Wide Ghost Plague’ was awarded ‘Judge’s Pick’ at Melbourne Fringe Festival last year. Based on the much-loved books by Ailsa Wild, this project was brought to life in collaboration with writer Michele Lee who is currently working on St Martins’ upcoming production, The Word!
Find out more and let the ghost hunt begin!